N.Y. Gov. David Paterson Plans to Meet With "Ground Zero Mosque" Backers

The site of a proposed mosque near Ground Zero has launched a heated debate about whether the mosque is appropriate.

/ CBS

Updated 2:59 p.m. Eastern Time

New York Governor David Paterson told Rep. Peter King in a phone call today that he plans to meet with the backers of the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" this week to discuss moving their project elsewhere, according to King's office.

The governor told King he planned to discuss with the developers "the possibility of moving it to an alternate site," King press secretary Kevin Fogarty told CBS News.

Paterson Deputy Press Secretary Maggie McKeon said in a statement: "We are working with the developers on a staff level but there have not been any formal discussions between the Governor, the Imam or the developer. However, we expect to have a meeting scheduled in the near future."

The developers told the Associated Press they are not aware of any planned meeting with Paterson.

King is an outspoken opponent of building the "ground zero mosque" - a proposed 13-story Islamic community center that would include a mosque roughly two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Paterson, who says he does not object to the site, has previously indicated that he would be willing to help broker a compromise to move the project, potentially to land owned by New York State.

"Frankly, if the sponsors were looking for property anywhere at a distance that would be such that it would accommodate a better feeling among the people who are frustrated, I would look into trying to provide them with the state property they would need," he said last week.

King's office said Paterson decided to call the congressman after hearing King express support for his effort during a radio interview.

[Part-of-the-solution]

I am absolutely horrified that the backers of this center would even THINK of moving it and giving credibility to mob rule in the United States. Religious freedom is an important value. We need to preserve it no matter how uncomfortable it will be shortterm. In two years nobody will give it a second thought. I am dismayed that the mob that opposes this cultural center might actually win. It would be shameful if this is allowed to happen. Our Constitution needs to stand for something.

[HolyVoice]

Abbe91 - this person is trying to bait you into reacting. Don't pay any attention to his or her mumbo-jumbo.

[voxpopulus]

"The support for criticizing a mosque is half a mile wide and an inch deep," conservative activist Grover Norquist warned. "And at the end of the process, the only people who will remember it are the people who feel threatened by this -- not just Muslims, but Sikhs, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Mormons."

[HolyVoice]

At least then the terrorist they teach would have to buy a plane ticket to get here instead of learning their trade in our own backyard.
by j40405 August 17, 2010 10:11 PM EDT

Yeah, that's the ticket! Don't you know that the 911 terrorists were highly educated, some had wives and children, and also some of them were in the US on work visas. They used box cutters to take over the airplanes.

They all bought plane tickets.

[jnostromo]

yes rats(vermin) are highly intelligent disease spreaders

[HolyVoice]

King is an outspoken opponent of building the "ground zero mosque" - a proposed 13-story Islamic community center that would include a mosque roughly two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Is King an outspoken opponent of any and all Muslims being allowed to travel to ground zero? Or if Muslim women visit, must they take off their head scarfs? If a Muslim wants to say a prayer for the loss of life at ground zero, will King prevent that from happening.

Most Americans know, I hope, that there are people who take on the "apperance" of religion, and it's a pretense for supporting their intolerant views. We have had that here in America since the Salem witch trials. Prior to that the Inquisitions did this very thing for almost 500 years, under the name of Christianity by way of the Vatican. But does Spain, Italy and France blame Christianity for the terrorism this brought?

[jnostromo]

What do you think would happen if a fundamentalist flew a plane into the new center after it is built? What would be the reaction of the muslim world? Religion is nothing but a tool used by all sides to further their goals..

[MRevesz]

there should be no religious affiliation of ANY kind allowed near that area....this should only serve as a memorial for those that lost their lives and perhaps a type of recognition to those that helped in the time of need. Does the Islamic community not realize that they will be a venue for vandalism..and TRULY 16 stories high...come on that's ridiculous.....IMO it's like the people who want this to happen are throwing it in every persons face that "they are still there and rising above"..makes me sick....and I am a Canadian....I don't even live in the USA.

What happenned to common decency and respect for the pain of others and those children of the people that died, their sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers & (children)..do they not deserve some respect..OR doesn't that matter anymore!

[cbs_tom]

"Tim McVeigh was a practicing White Christian, so all White Christians should be banned".
by Brewmaster_K August 17, 2010 5:03 PM EDT

Actually, he was not a Christian. And what is a "White Christian"? He professed himself that he was the captain of his own ship.

[wdh3007]

The mosque in NY has alot to do with geography and location 70 percent of america want the mosque moved to another location other than ground zero. Thats a huge majority and one that cannot be overlooked given the sensativity of the issue but in the end I suspect the people will have their way and the mosque will be moved. I personnaly liked the idea of making ground zero a U.S. national landmark inorder to preserve it's location and to keep others from building things on a place that should be remebered for it's heroic victims on that fateful day. Let us not forget those that died so that their memories will not be lost forever.

[jimbom121]

"70 percent of america " First off, the only people who should care are New Yorkers, and the Mosque is being built NEAR ground zero, not in it. This is a local issue, not a federal issue.

[j40405]

An alternate site, hmmm, how about Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa. Any of these would be a great choice. At least then the terrorist they teach would have to buy a plane ticket to get here instead of learning their trade in our own backyard.

[mehelelelelelele]

First of all, you can't assume all Muslims are radical fundamentalist terrorists and want to kill every American they can get there hands on. if you think that, then you have never seen outside of your narrow small world, and also you should feel very scared and be hiding somewhere as there is indeed a large Muslim population in the US. that is why you cannot also assume the developers of the mosque are building a terrorist organization out of scratch or training terrorists. Just like you can't assume all Christians are part of the KKK, you can't assume the Muslims that are taking part in developing this center are Al Qaeda operatives. It's there right as Americans to build that mosque and nobody should be able to take that right away from them, if you are in any way thinking it a victory monument, then you are also assuming that the developers of the mosque are supporters of AL Qaeda, and indeed supported the massacre of 3,000 Americans on 9/11, 300 of them being Muslims, Also if you have come to that conclusion based on only the sheer knowledge that they are Muslims trying to build a mosque and happen to own private property 2 blocks from ground zero then you are ignorant, and intolerant of freedom of religious practice, plain and simple.
SO if a radical Evangelical Christian group decide to blow up an abortion clinic, killing say 300 people, and then 9 years later they decide to build a church 2 blocks from the destroyed clinic site, lemme guess you'd go with what Palin says about the location of the mosque and think it "stabs hearts." Its just unfortunate all this bad connotation people have with "Islam" and "Muslims." We are not fighting a war against Muslims in the Middle East, we are fighting a war against FUNDAMENTAL RELIGIOUS ZEALOT TERRORISTS, and those words should never be used interchangeably with the term Muslim or Islam.

[danjp1957]

I wish some group would ask for donations so they could make a higher Bid on the Property where the Mosque is projected to be built near ground Zero and make it into another Monument to the Lost souls of 9/11>>I would Donate $$$ 25 in a heart beat and I'm sure the nation would come together on this and it would make it happen--not only enough to buy the land but enough to build a Monument!

[voxpopulus]

The land has been bought. You don't get to force people to sell it.

[voxpopulus]

"Some group" hasn't even managed to rebuild on Ground Zero itself yet thanks to capitalist greed and fighting over profit.